In Manchester and London, criminals used the game to lure victims to specific locations and then stole their cell phones.Elsewhere, police caught Pokemon-chasing children trespassing on railway lines and drivers who stopped their vehicles haphazardly in a bid to snare the virtual creatures.

Cheshire Police Sgt. Neil Dewson-Smyth described the number of incidents as “worrying.”

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The "Pokemon Go" game has fast become one of the world's most popular smartphone apps.

“Nationally and internationally, I’m well aware of quite a few circumstances that have come up,” Dewson-Smyth added. “But for me, the key message is do not play it while driving. It’s a fun game, but play safe and don’t put lives at risk.”